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The U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) recently added new events to its website for 2015. USTDA events, like workshops and business briefings, showcase U.S. technologies and services that can help partner countries achieve their development goals.

Business briefings provide a platform for foreign delegates to present their upcoming procurement needs to U.S. businesses. A hallmark of USTDA-sponsored events is the one-on-one meeting, which allows U.S. companies and overseas project sponsors to discuss specific solutions to development challenges.

We are proud to serve as the co-chairs of this federal interagency Task Force, which will focus on the civic, economic and linguistic integration of new Americans and creating welcoming communities for all residents.

In my first year as Secretary, one of my proudest moments was welcoming international investors to the 2013 SelectUSA Investment Summit. Alongside President Obama, Secretary of State John Kerry, Treasury Secretary Jack Lew, Labor Secretary Thomas Perez, and U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman, we made it clear that America is “Open for Business.”

As 2015 begins, we are moving full speed ahead with registration for the second SelectUSA Investment Summit, which will take place in the DC metro area on March 23-24, 2015.

The National Weather Service is warning much of the country about the polar vortex, an arctic air mass that is pushing much of the eastern and central U.S. down to record cold temperatures.

During this wave, workers are at increased risk of cold stress. Increased wind speeds can cause the air temperature to feel even colder, further increasing the risk of cold stress of those working outdoors, such as:

Snow cleanup crews

Construction workers

Recreational workers

Postal workers

Police officers

Firefighters

Miners

Baggage handlers

Landscapers

Support workers for oil and gas operations

When the body is unable to warm itself, cold-related stress may result in tissue damage and possibly death. Four factors contribute to cold stress: cold air temperatures, high velocity air movement, dampness of the air, and contact with cold water or surfaces.